Chess Set

Also known as Lewis Chessmen or Uig Chessmen, this style of chess set is based on a collection of 12th-century pieces found in 1831 on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides off the west coast of Scotland. They were discovered by a man named Malcolm Macleod, who, according to one story, was searching for a lost cow at the time. Most of the pieces are now in the British Museum, along with a number of other game pieces found in the same cache. It is believed they were made by a master craftsman in Trondheim in Norway, around the late 12th century, and were lost or buried on their way to Norse settlements in Ireland.

The detailed figurines were originally carved in walrus ivory, and are notable for the expressions on each character’s face – the queen looks bored, the king stern, and some of the rooks appear to be gnawing furiously on the rim of their shields. While the designs may be a little distracting for practical play – although the pieces are very solid and stable – they have been popular display pieces and even made an appearance in the Harry Potter movies.